Escaping the big city for a Caribbean beach

Trip Start Sep 01, 2006

110

Trip End Aug 31, 2007

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Flag of Costa Rica Cahuita, Costa Rica
Friday, March 30, 2007

I caught the bus Cahuita on the Caribbean coast. Most of the journey was through the cloud forests that seem to surround San Jose's north, east and west sides (haven't been south). This meant I spent most of the journey looking at the thick cloud mist outside the window with just a few glimpses of the mountains outside.

The town is supposed to have a free love reputation thanks to the gringas (female gringos) that come here looking for a holiday romance. There were a few would-be gigolos hanging on the street corners but they seem to have fallen on hard times.

I decided to stay at black beach (named after the colour of the sand on the beach) which turned out to be twenty minutes out of town. I ended up being in hotel with just three other guests so I pretty had the run of the place to myself.

Cahuita's main draw is the beach and the nation park, which follows one of the beaches. I had a walk through the national park looking for the animals that allegedly live in it. As with every other national park in Costa Rica I didn't see a single animal. They must have all headed south or started hibernating early. I have come to the conclusion that the only wildlife here are in the zoos and tourist brochures. Quite a lot of people seem to agree with me on this.

Cahuita is supposed to be a big tourist town although I found it to be pretty quiet. Well, only three of us got of the bus here. Everybody else went on to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. My next destination.